by Lois Szymanaski, photography by Nikola Tzenov
Comfort And Hope
American composer and songwriter Irving Berlin wrote, “The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” After her best friend’s death, one local woman is working to ensure her friend’s memory endures. Andrea Gerhard of Hampstead spoke fondly of her friend, Rachel Williams, who died from cancer in 2022. It was a difficult time, but Gerhard’s grief grew into a mission. She decided to solidify a project she’d already started and form a nonprofit to honor Williams. In 2019, Gerhard worked as a consultant for a company that sold books. One of the company’s products was a “cuddle bear kit” that paired a book with a stuffed bear. She was inspired to give these kits to children in need.
“In 2019, I messaged a few friends about ordering the kits and donating them to Johns Hopkins [Children’s Center],” she says. That small outreach continued, resulting in 250 kits being donated to children at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center from 2019 through 2021. Then, in 2022, Williams passed away. She had been a nurse at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore, so Gerhard decided to make her 2022 donation in Rachel’s name to children at the hospital.
“That 2022 donation was over 400 kits,” she says. “It was unexpected and exciting to see it grow. I decided to make it more formal and to continue to do this in her memory.” With help from the Community Foundation of Carroll County, Gerhard formed a nonprofit organization called Rachel’s Bears in July 2023. She continues to connect with child life specialists at hospitals across the nation, offering books and bears for hospitalized children.
Gerhard said some hospitals take only books, some take only bears, and some take a kit that includes both. Rachel’s Bears makes multiple donations annually to Carroll Hospital Center. She says she splits the donations over time, so the hospital doesn’t have to store them. Sue Hoffman, clinical manager of the Family Birthplace and Pediatrics at Carroll Hospital, says they began working with Rachel’s Bears in early 2024, after a meeting with Gerhard and members of the Carroll Hospital Foundation.
“A lot of times, patients are here at the worst time in their life,” Hoffman says. “Kids often need a needle, a shot or an IV. To a child, it can be hard to explain that something painful will help them. It’s wonderful to be able to bring something positive to the experience. It makes treatments easier if you can gain their trust and if they have something to hold onto while we are working to help them get better.”
Hoffman says Gerhard’s efforts make a difference for children struggling through a hospital stay. “Andrea has been great to partner with,” she says, “and I know that the kids who come to our unit appreciate that they are each seen as an individual and provided for during what is a tough time for them.” Hoffman loves the joy spread by Rachel’s Bears, but she also appreciates that it honors nurses’ good work. “It is a wonderful way to recognize the care that another nurse provided to her patients by helping out other patients,” she adds. As Rachel’s Bears has grown, Gerhard has expanded partnerships with other distributors to diversify the products she can offer to hospitals.
“We can offer books for any age from infant to teen. The hospitals tell me what is needed,” she says. “Some need chapter books, some need board books, or sometimes we just fill their library carts with all kinds of books. It is whatever the hospital needs. They know their own needs better than me.” In addition, Gerhard has added a custom bear, one wearing a T-shirt that reads, “Rachel’s Bears.” “I always carry a big bear that has a Rachel’s Bears T-shirt with me,” she says with a smile. “I travel with it in the car’s front seat. People know it’s me when they see this big bear!”
While Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital was the first hospital she worked with, Gerhard contacted other hospitals. Now, Rachel’s Bears are in 20 hospitals in 15 states. Her goal is to have the bears in every state. While most of her hospital contacts come from cold calls or emails, a few have come through personal situations, including distributions to hospitals in Illinois and Michigan.
“The one in Michigan was because one of my parent’s friends had a grandson who was [in the hospital] for a long time, and they said it would mean a lot to them if we did a donation there,” Gerhard says. “I sent them a card later and told them we made the donation in their grandchild’s name.” Gerhard and her husband Bo do all the work, except when they have a special event. Then, the volunteers kick in.
“For the past two years, we have worked with [the nonprofit] Live Hope Laugh in Carroll County for their Night of Giving. They work with chronically ill and disabled children and hold a big holiday party annually where everyone gets to meet Santa and get gifts. We give out over 100 stuffed animals there. Our volunteers help us put the tags on the bears and help us get ready.”
Nurses at Carroll Hospital Center speak highly about Rachel’s Bears. “When a child gets admitted in the middle of the night, it makes them really happy to see a friendly new toy first thing upon entering the room,” says Billi Gore, a night shift nurse. Gerhard says she has been humbled by the support she receives from the community and the hospitals. She is planning upcoming donations to hospitals in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Montana, and has also established a new partnership with Kids Kicking Cancer, a Michigan nonprofit. “Every kid entering the [Kicking Cancer] program will get a book and a bear from us,” Gerhard shared. For Gerhard, focusing on doing good gives her hope.
“Sometimes, people don’t realize it, but there are so many people doing really great things and especially in our community. Even if we can bring a temporary smile, it might help them get through this hard time in their life.” Learn more at RachelsBears.org.
